Anti-violence fight

An array of colours at the Vodafone Arena as women's groups from all over Fiji display their crafts, scented oils, mats and
artifacts at the 2014 National Women's
Expo. Picture: JOVESA NAISUA

THE involvement of stakeholders is important in the fight against the abuse of women and children.

This is the view of the assistant director child services at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Ela Tukutukulevu, following the completion of the Children and Women's Summit in Suva.

And these stakeholders include the church, village headmen, women's groups and village elders.

Ms Tukutukulevu said stakeholders' involvement carried weight in such fights.

"We have trained leaders and gatekeepers as well as community facilitators who are specially tasked to carry out awareness on this," Ms Tukutukulevu said.

"This is the first time we got together and we are proud that we have managed to come and put together ideas to tackle child abuse.

"They came with their success stories — significant stories on how the programs have changed people because their communities have been declared zero tolerant violence free communities and the objective being to draw together a work plan which they would go back and raise awareness on violence against women and children."

Ms Tukutukulevu said despite this being the first meeting, they had already mapped out what to do in their communities.

She added these gatekeepers and community facilitators would be their advocates in the wider Fijian communities.